Women With Disabilities Australia is deeply concerned that the Senate Committee’s interim report recommends the NDIS Reform Bill be passed without requiring any real or substantive changes.
The recommendations, as they stand, include that the Commonwealth Government publish a roadmap and provide further explanation in the Explanatory Memorandum. But an Explanatory Memorandum is not law, and a roadmap is not a safeguard. These recommendations do not allay WWDA’s serious concerns that the Bill could reduce supports, narrow access to the Scheme, increase isolation and shift costs and care onto families, particularly women.
However, WWDA welcomes the Committee’s acknowledgement of the critical role of disability supports outside the NDIS. The Committee has recommended that the passing of the Bill be subject to the delivery of the jointly agreed investment in foundational supports outside of the Scheme. We welcome the recognition that the proposed changes to the Scheme should not proceed before a system of foundational supports is delivered. WWDA has repeatedly stated that foundational supports must be designed, tested, fully funded and made available before changes to the Scheme are enacted. WWDA is hopeful that this causes the Government to pause.
In our evidence to the inquiry on the Bill, we said that the Bill must be delayed until three things happen:
- foundational supports are available, fully funded, accessible and safe;
- government publishes a comprehensive gender impact analysis; and there is independent public testing that these measures will not increase exclusion; and
- unpaid, gendered care responsibilities; violence risk; or preventable deterioration or crisis.
We have repeatedly said: no one should lose supports under the NDIS, until alternatives are available, fully funded and tested.
WWDA will continue to tell the Government that the Bill as it stands should not pass. We welcome the extension of the inquiry so that the Senate Committee can engage with the evidence provided by the disability community and our supporters, and the community’s serious concerns.
Quotes attributable to Sophie Cusworth, CEO, Women With Disabilities Australia
“We are still working through this report, but our concern is clear: the Bill should not pass as it stands.”
“A roadmap and more explanation do not fix the risks in this Bill. People with disability need real changes, real safeguards and clear evidence that these reforms will not cause harm.”
“We have said this again and again: no one should lose NDIS supports until alternatives are available, fully funded, accessible and tested.”
“We welcome the Committee recognising that the proposed changes to the NDIS should not be passed before commitments to foundational supports have been fulfilled. Those supports have to be real, funded, accessible and tested, not just promised on paper.”
Interview availability
Sophie Cusworth, CEO of Women With Disabilities Australia, is available for interviews. Please contact:
- Alex Hahn, Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement, WWDA: 0459 187 085
